Writing machine



Dec. 29, 1931. A. T. KuRowsKl ET AL 1,838,844

WRITING MACHINE Filed Aug. 12. 1927 Sweets-sheet 1 DCC- 29, 1931- A. T.KURowsKl r-:T AL 1,838,844

WRITING MACHINE Filed Augl2. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. y29, 1931. AA T.KuRowsKl ET AL 1,838,844

WRITING MACHINE Filed Aug. l2. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventors: lzzfedT. Kum wsK Patented Dec. 29,1931

-Nrlueb` STATES PATENT OFFICE- y 4ALFRED T.-KUROWSKI, OF MONTROSE, ANDERIC N. KUROWSKI, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW`l YORK; ALFRED G'. F. KUROWSKI,ADMINISTRATOR OF SAID ERIC N.'KUROWSKI, DE- `CEASED, ASSIGNORS TOUNDERWOODI ELLIOTT FISHER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK,

IN. Y., A CORPORATION F DELAWARE WRITING MACHINE Application led AugustY12, 192'?. vSerial No. 212,396.

This invention relates to typewriting machines wherein a swingingtypebar is moved through the operation ,of a key lever from a positionof rest to printing position against a platen, and particularly tomachines wherein the printing is done by a pressure and not by impact toprovide a silent or noiseless typewriting machine, and it is the objectof movement thereof in a direction toward and away from the platen, thetypebar sectors being arranged with teeth to mesh with transverse fiutesin the base member arranged in concentric arcs of circles whose centerlies yin a line extending vertically through the printing point on theplaten. A slotted segment extends downward in opposed. and spacedrelation to the base member, and the typebars are carried by leverspivotally connected thereto at the center from which the curved portionof the sector is struck and said typebar carrying levers are mounted ona pivot support arranged in an arc of a circle extending transverselyofthe slotted portion of the segment, 'and the centerof which arc liesin a vertical line extending in a plane with the printing point on theplaten. Key levers for operating the typebar carriesy have an operativeconnection withsaid carriers at a point intermediate the ends thereof.The typebarsand carriers therefor'are constructed and connected toconstitute a toggle joint so arranged that when the parts are inexhausted position the pivotal connection of the typebarand carrier.will be in line with the pivotal support of the carrier and the lasttooth of the sector engaging a Bute in the base member, in whichposition of the parts the typebar will be brought momentarily to restwith the type contiguous to but out of impression making positionon theplaten, and the type is brought to impression making position againstthe platen with a forcible pressure by the overthrowing of the toggleconnection thereby rocking the typebars on the last' tooth of the sectorengaging with a flute of the base, after which yielding means is broughtinto action tourge the parts to normal position. of rest.

In the drawings accompanying andrforming al part of this specification,Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a typewriting machineshowing an embodiment of the present typebar action applied thereto withthe parts in normal position of rest.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l but showing the parts inimpression making position, certain beenv omitte Figure 3 is a sideelevation, partly in section, showing a modiied arran ement of thetypebar mechanism shown in igures 1 and 2 and" A y 7Figure 4 is alongitudinal section in perspective to show the mounting,` constructionparts shown in Figuerl having and arrangement of a side typebar actionin relation to a typebar action-located' centrally ofthe segment.

In Figure 1 the invention is shown in connection with a typewritingmachine embodying a framework, shown in dot and dash lines and indicatedin a general way by F, upon which are mounted ink ribbon carrying spools4 and a ribbon vibrator and guide 5 in relation to a cylindrical platen6 rotatably mounted in a platen frame 7 mounted b means of a ballcarrier 8 in a frame 9pivota ly carried by links 10, pivotally mountedonthe framework, as 'at' 11, to permit of the platen carriage and platento'have adjustn ment in a vertical direction and position the writingline on ,the platen in diiferent positions, for instance to write upperand lowerf 9 case characters. They frame, 9 also carries means tocontrol the feed of the platen carriage letter space distancesembodying` escapement mechanism including a ratchet wheel 12 with whicha pivoted feeding pawl 13 and holding detent 14 co-operate, the eslcapement'mechanism being actuated bya pivoted arm 15 co-operating withthe feeding pawl upon the operation of typebar actuatlng key levers 16through a universal bar 17 Ion extending transversely of the frameworkbelow the key levers and carried by arms 18 fixed to and extendingupward and forward from a rock shaft 19, the feed pawl actuating arm 15being connected with the universal bar carrying arms by a link 20, theuniversal bar also imparting ribbon feeding movement to the ribbonspools by pawls 21 in the form of bell crank levers connected to thearms 22 fixed to and extended forward from the universal bar. The platencarriage carrying frame is shifted by a key lever 35 having a fulcrumsupport 36 in a bar 37 extending transversely of the machine, the leverhaving a pin and slot connection with the platen carriage frame, as at38.

The improved typebar action as shown in said Figure 1 comprises typecarrying bars arranged with a sector portion 23 to have to and frorolling engagement with what is herein termed a base member or segment24 located in a vertical plane below the platen and having transverseflutes 25 arranged in concentric arcs of circles whose center is in avertical plane passing through the printing point on the platen. Atypebar guide 26 extends upwardly from the top and midway between theends of the base member, said guide being arranged below the printingpoint on theplaten and in a plane passing through said printing point.In the structure shown in Figure l the face of the base member orsegment arranged with the flutes is of convex form and in the arc of acircle whose center lies in a pivot support or fulcrum rod 27 (for apurpose to be hereinafter described) carried by a slotted portion of asegment 28 fixed to and extending downward from the top of the frameworkin opposed and spaced relation to the segment.

Type carrying heads 29 are mounted upon the edge of `a protection 30extended laterally from the sector at the juncture of the curved portionwith a radial edge portion 31 thereof with the type facing in thedirection of the teeth of the sector. The typebars are carried by levers32 having a laterally extended portion 32 for engagement in the slots ofthe segment 28 and whereby they are mounted upon the pivot or fulcrumsupport 27, said support being arranged in an arc of a circle whosecenter is in a vertical plane passing through or intersecting theprinting point and perpendicular to the platen. The opposite end of thecarriers` are pivotally connected at 33 with the typebars at the centerfrom which the arc of the scctor is struck, the pivot having an enlargedhead at one side of the typebar to provide a large bearing surface andprevent canting of the typebar relative to the carrier. The typebarcarriers are operatively connected with and operated by the levers 16having finger keys 34 connected to angular end portions thereof wlth thekeys arranged in the usual banked row formation, and at the oppositeends fulcrumed upon the fulcrum support 36.

It will be seen that a novel internal gear segment is erected in frontof the platen, in the form of an internal spheroidal segment, which issuiiiciently wide at its base to be engaged by the divergent orradiating type-bar sectors 23, and narrows at its top. The segmentcurves upwardly and forwardly over the type-sectors. Arm 32 extendstowards the printing point when the type is in printing position, andthe weight of the type-carrier 23, 31 is not driven with a hammer effecttowards the platen. Toggle 31, 32 is normally closed and folded down,but straightens out as the type reaches printing position; that is tosay, the pivots 27, 23 are substantially in line with type 29 when thelatter is printing. The type-bar sectors are neste-d within the internalspheroidal segment.

The key levers are connected with the typebar carriers by links 39pivotally connected at one end with a nose 40 extending laterally fromthe carrier intermediate the pivotal support 27 and the connection 33thereof with the typebars. The opposite end of the link is pivotallyconnected to one arm 41 of bell crank levers pivotally mounted in acrossbar 42, the other arm of the levers having a pin and slotconnection 43 with the .key levers intermediate the ends thereof. Theparts are normally yieldingly urged to a position of rest with the typehead carrying projections 30 of the typebars engaging upon a cushion 44carried by the segment 28 by springs 45 connected at one end to ears 46extended downward from the key levers and the opposite endsconnectedwith a transverse bar 47, the key levers being arranged with atongue 48 extending parallel therewith for engagement with the universalbar when a key lever is depressed for actuating the platen feed devices.The key carrying ends of the levers are guided in a comb 49.

In the operation of the typebar when a key lever is depressed a bellcrank lever 41 is rocked as shown in Figure 2 exerting a push upon theconnected link 39 and typebar 32 causing the toothed sector to roll upthe fluted face of the base member. It will be noted that the typebarcarriers and the typebars constitute in effect a toggle joint due to themounting of the typebar carrier and the connection thereof with thetypebar, the one hearing of the toggle being the pivot or fulcrumsupport 27 and the other the engagement of the tooth of the sector withthe fiutes of the base member. When the typebar has been moved toexhaust the toggle the pivot support 27 of the carrier and theconnection 33 thereof with a typebar will bc in line with the last toothof the sector engaging with a flute of the base member, as shown at 50,in which position of the parts the type on the type head 29 will be incontiguous relation to the platen but out of -impression makingposition. However,` due the platen. The teeth of the sector are madewith one face of the teeth convex and the4 other face concave and theflutes of the base member are made to correspond therewith whereby toget a close fit between the sector teeth and the -flutes of the basemember. However, the last tooth of the sector is made of V shape asshown and the last flute in the base member is made to correspondtherewith whereby this rocking movement of the typebars is permitted.

In the modification shown in Figure 3 the iuted face of the base memberis arranged in a perpendicular plane tangential to the platen and thetypebar guide 26 is extended forwardly of the platen.` In this instancethe teeth of the sector are of involute form and the base flutes 25 aremade to correspond therewith. In this arrangement the typebar carriers32a are pivotally mounted, as at 51,

on arms 52 engaging in slots of a segment 28 and mounted upon a pivot orfulcrum support 27', the links 39 being connected to anextendedportion53 of the typebar carriers. The segment extends to adjacent the bottomof the frame and the typebars in the normal position thereof rest on acushion 44 carried by a bail 54 mounted on the segment. Upon thedepression of a key lever the type head is moved to and brought at restadjacent the platen but out of impression making position, and isbrought into impression making engagement with the platen by the inertiaof the parts and a projection 55 on the typebars engaging Awith aresilient covering 56 on a rod 57 carried by arms 58 extended laterallyl,from the cushion carrying bail 54. The parts are yieldingly urged toposition of rest by springs 59, 60 connected at one end to a pin 61 ixedin the framework the opposite ends of the springs 59 being connected, asat 62, with the arms 52,'and the opposite ends of the springs 60 withthe key levers.

It will be obvious that various modifications may be made inconstruction and arrangement of parts and come4 within the scope of theinvention. j.

' Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a front-strike typewriting machine,

the combination with a platen, of type-bars each arranged with asector-portion, an in- .ternal gear spheroidal segment arranged belowthe platen for rolling engagement by the sector-portion of the type-barsin the movement of the typebars to and away from printing position onthe platen, a `second segment arranged in opposed relation to the firstsegment, levers pivotally supported at one end in the second segment andpivotally connected at the opposite end with and carrying the type-barsat the center from which the arc of the sector-portion of the type-barsis struck, the type-bar sectors being nested within said spheroidalsegment, and keylevers operatively connected with the first levers toactuate the type-bars.

2. In a front-strike typewriting machine, the combination with a platen,of a type-bar arranged with a sector-portion, an internal gear segmentarranged below the platen with which the sector-portion of the type-baris adapted to have to and fro rolling engagement 'in the movement of thetype-bar to and away from the platen, a pivoted carrier for the type-barpivotally connected Ito and forming a normally closed toggle with saidtype-bar, the toggle being straightened when the type is in printingposition, and a keylever operatively connected with the type-bar carrierto actuate the same.

3. In a front-strike typewriting machine, the combination with a platen,of a system of radial type-bars, each-having a toothed sector-portion,an internal gear spheroidal segment erected below the platen and havingtransverse arcuate concentric flutes in the face thereof to correspondwith the teeth of the type-bar sectors and with which the sector-teethare adapted to mesh and the sectors have to and fro rolling movementrelative to the segment to. move the type-bars toward and away from theplaten, pivoted members pivotally connected to and forming normallyclosed toggles withsaid type-bars and adapted upon the actuation thereofto effect the rolling movement of the type-bar sectors relative to thesegment, the toggles being straightened when the types are in printingpositions, and levers operativel)r connected with said pivoted membersto actuate the type-bars.

4. In a front-strike ltypewriting machine, the combination with aplaten, of a fixed internal gear segment erected below the platen, atoothed sector, the teeth of which mesh with tlie segment, the segmentcurving upwardly and forwardly over the sector, said sector beingarranged with a type-carrying projection, a support, a lever pivotedthereo'n, said lever also pivotally connected with the sector at thecenter from which the arc of the segment is struck and adapted upon theactuation thereof to impart rolling movement to the sector relative tothe segment to move the type-carrying projection in a direction towardand away from the platen,

eov

claimed in claim 4, wherein the sector carryin g lever is pivotallymounted in a slot in a segment arranged in opposed and spaced relationto the first segment, and the connec tion of the lever and sectorarranged to constitute a toggle joint.

6. In a front-strike typewriting machine, the combination with a platen,of a fixed internal gear segment extending in a vertical plane below theplaten and arranged with concentric flutes in the face thereof, a sectorhaving teeth to correspond and mesh with the segment flutes, said sectorhaving a typecarrying projection, a support, and a lever pivotedthereon, said lever also pivotally con'- nected with the sector at thecenter from which-the arc of the sector is struck, said lever and sectorconstituting a normally closed toggle adapted to assume an extendedposition when the type nearly reaches the platen, said segment havingmeans to serve as a fulcrum for the sector when the type is close to butout of contact with the platen,

and said lever being mounted to move suliiciently to rock the sectorupon the fulcruin to impress the type against the platen.

7 A typewriting machine as claimed inr claim 4, wherein the typecarrying projece tion extends from the sector'at the juncture of thecurved portion with a radial edge portion, and the sector carrying leveris pivotally supported in a slot in a segment arranged in opposed andspaced relation to the first segment andthe connection thereof with thesector being at the center from which the curved portion of the sectoris struck whereby said sector and lever is arranged to constitute atoggle for the purpose specified.

8. A typewriting machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the flutes inthe segment are in the form of concentric arcs of circles whose axislies in a vertical plane passing through the printing point andperpendicular to the platen.

9. A'typewriting machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the flutes inthe segment are in the form of concentric arcs of circles whose axislies in a vertical plane passing through the printing point andAperpendicular to the platen, and is also arranged with a type guidepositioned in a vertical direction to intersect the printing point onthe platen.

10. A typewriting machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the flutes inthe segment are in the form of concentric arcs of circles whose axislies in.a vertical plane passing through theprinting .point andperpendicular to the platen, and the sector carrying lever is pivotallysupported in a segment opposed to the first segment. s v

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of asegment disposed in a plane below therplaten arranged` with concentricflutes the center common to all of which flutes lies in a vertical planeintersecting the printing point on the platen, a slotf ted segmentextending downward in opposed and spaced relation to the first segmentarranged with a curved pivot support arranged in an arc whose centerliesin a vertical plane intersecting the printing point andperpendicular to the platen, a toothed sector having a type carryingprojection extending laterally therefrom at the juncture of the curvedportion and a radial edge portion, said sector being adapted to haverolling engagement with the segment with the teetl in mesh with theflutes thereof, a level mounted on the pivot support of the segment andhaving a pivotal connection with the sector at the center from which thecurved portion thereof isl struck, and a key lever having an operativeconnection with the first lever intermediate its pivot support and itsconnection with the sector.

12. A typewriting machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein thekey leveris fulcrumed at one end, and the connection thereof with the sectorcarrying lever comprises a bell crank lever one arm of which has a pinand slot connection with the key lever intermediate the ends thereof,and a link pivotally connected to the other arm of the lever and thesector carrying lever.

13. In a front-strike typewriting machine, the combination with aplaten, of a system of type-carriers arranged Jforwardly of and belowthe platen, radial levers extending forwardly and rearwardly vbelow saidcarriers, said carriers having types upon their upper ends and beingpivoted at their lower portions to the rear ends of said levers, pivotsconnecting the forward ends of said levers to the framework, and meansin rear of said levers for connecting said carriers to the framework, toco-operate with the levers in guiding the types upwardly and rearwardlyand presentingV them to the platen; each carrier with its lever forminga normally closed toggle and the toggle being substantially straightenedout when the type is in-printing position. i

ALFRED T. KUROWSKI. ERIC N. KUROWSKI.

